The Castro, Presidio and Urban cabs were in the 500-block of Granville for Facing Kate, a new TV series being shot in town.

It's set in San Francisco, which is why there was a blue U.S. Post Office box outside Holt-Renfrew, along with a San Francisco Trolley street kiosk and a red San Francisco Weekly newspaper box.

There was a Washington Times newspaper inside the SF Weekly box, which seemed a bit odd. But then, none of the cab companies were real, either, although they had detailed touches such as two-tone paint jobs and cab fares painted on the door.

The 12-episode series is based around a disillusioned lawyer who becomes a mediator. The stars are Sarah Shahi ( L Word, Life) and Michael Trucco ( Battlestar Galactica). Wednesday's shoot featured an argument between Shahi and a youngish guy in a business suit and bicycle helmet (no, it wasn't Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson). Hundreds of people streamed by in the glorious sunshine and may become part of the scene, if it isn't cut.

Unfortunately they may have go to the U.S. to see if they made it into the episode. Facing Kate is on the USA Network, which isn't available in Canada.

According to Wikipedia, Shahi is the great-great granddaughter of a 19th-century shah of Iran. Her father is Iranian, her mother is Spanish and she was born in Euless, Texas, near Dallas-Fort Worth.

She was a cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys football team before turning to acting, and made Maxim Magazine's Hot 100 list in 2005-06. Sopranos fans may recognize her from the landmark episode where Tony kills his nephew Christopher, then goes

to Las Vegas, takes peyote and makes whoopee with one of Christopher's old girlfriends, played by Shahi.

jmackie@vancouversun.com